GRE Bites

Episode 31: How to prevent studying burnout (a sustainable approach to test prep)

In today's episode, we respond to a listener-submitted question on how to prevent studying burnout. To begin with, we stress the importance of not getting burned-out in the first place. An ounce of prevention here is definitely worth a pound of cure. And then we discuss the utility of a consistent, structured study plan -- and a definite endpoint -- in achieving this goal.
Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated GRE self-study program, and the world's only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code "BITES" for 10% off all membership plans: https://www.stellargre.com.
Please send comments, questions, and suggestions for future video topics to: stellargre@gmail.com.
GRE Bites is a weekly podcast that delivers practical, relevant, bite-sized episodes about GRE prep and grad school admissions. It is co-hosted by Davis Evans, an educator with over a decade of experience, and Orion Taraban, a licensed psychologist and founder of StellarGRE. Its mission is to help students ace the GRE and get into their graduate programs of choice.
#gre #gradschool #testpreparation

Episode 30: The importance of vision for top performance (believe it to see it)

Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated self-study program and the world's only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code "BITES" for 10% off all membership plans. To learn more, go to: https://www.stellargre.com.
Can you actually see yourself succeeding on the GRE? If you can't yet even see yourself hitting your target score in your imagination, how can you reasonably expect to do so in reality? In today's episode, we discuss the importance of vision in top performance, utilizing research culled from sports psychology. Stellar is designed to give you everything you need to get a top-percentile score on the test. It's based on the same system Orion used to achieve his own perfect score.
#gre #testpreparation #gradschool

Episode 29: What is a good GRE score? (understanding score thresholds)

Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated self-study program and the world's only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code "BITES" for 10% off all membership plans. To learn more, go to: https://www.stellargre.com.
In today's episode, we turn our attention to that age-old question: "what is a good GRE score?" Though it may sound evasive, this can actually be a difficult question to answer. The most satisfactory response might be that it depends on your competition. And this is why it is important to research your target score before preparing for the exam. The adaptive, mock tests in Stellar are designed to give you the most accurate insight into your current level of performance so that you can track your progress appropriately.
#gre #testpreparation #gradschool

Episode 28: How to approach retaking the GRE (sitting for the test multiple times)

Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated self-study program and the world's only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code "BITES" for 10% off all membership plans. To learn more, go to: https://www.stellargre.com.
In today's episode, we respond to a question from one of our listeners. Apparently, he didn't quite hit the score he was hoping for on his first attempt, and is now considering the possibility of re-taking the exam. My hope for all students is that they are "one and done" with the test. However, if you decide to sit for the GRE again, it's not the end of the world. Davis and I discuss some things to keep in mind should you choose to go down this road.
#gre #testpreparation #gradschool

Episode 27: How to generalize your skills to new problems on the GRE (the importance of scaffolded learning)

Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated self-study program and the world's only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code "BITES" for 10% off all membership plans. To learn more, go to: https://www.stellargre.com.
In today's episode, we respond to a question from one of our listeners. Apparently, he's able to understand the explanation to any particular question, but is having difficulty generalizing this understanding to variants of the question. This is actually a very common issue with students. Orion discusses how to overcome this difficulty, emphasizing how unique features in his self-study program address this very problem.
#gre #testpreparation #gradschool

Episode 26: What is the best GRE study program? (introducing a revolutionary new approach to the test)

Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated self-study program and the world's only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code "BITES" for 10% off all membership plans. To learn more, go to: https://www.stellargre.com.
There are a lot of GRE self-study programs out there. Which one is the best? In today's episode, we discuss Orion's top-rated course, and why it just might be the best GRE prep product on market. Based on the see-do-teach model used to train medical doctors, Stellar helps students maximize their gains as quickly as possible. Think of it as Executive Test Prep. After all, we know that you have better things to do with your time.
#gre #testprep #gradschool

Episode 25: Getting ahead of the clock on the GRE quant section (how to create a time buffer)

Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated self-study program and the world's only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code "BITES" for 10% off all membership plans. To learn more, go to: https://www.stellargre.com.
For the vast majority of students, the time limit is the most challenging aspect of the GRE. And nowhere is this pressure felt more keenly than on the quantitative section of the test. However, there are several strategies can students can use to bank some time and get ahead of the clock on the quant section. This will allow students to attempt more questions, and should reduce the subjective sense of urgency that is the primary driver of carelessness. Davis and I talk shop on these topics.
#gre #testpreparation #time

Episode 24: Progress requires extraordinary effort on the GRE (understanding what it takes to succeed)

Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated self-study program and the world's only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code "BITES" for 10% off all membership plans. To learn more, go to: https://www.stellargre.com.
The second law of thermodynamics states that entropy tends to increase in a closed system. This means that, if you do nothing, things fall apart. You have to do something just to maintain the status quo. And this means that doing something is not enough to move the needle. In order to make progress, extraordinary effort is necessary. In this episode, Davis and I will discuss how this principle applies to GRE prep.
#gre #testpreparation #progress

Episode 23: What is the best way to learn GRE vocab words? (introducing a new approach to vocab acquisition)

Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated self-study program and the world's only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code "BITES" for 10% off all membership plans. To learn more, go to: https://www.stellargre.com.
Vocabulary acquisition is -- by far -- the most tedious and time-consuming aspect of GRE prep. However, it's absolutely essential to raising the ceiling on your verbal score. Unfortunately, most students go about this process completely wrong. And why is this? By memorizing the dictionary definitions of hundreds (or thousands) of words, students are preparing themselves for a task that they actually will not be tested on (i.e., recalling definitions). A must more efficient (and effective) approach is to group words into similar meanings, which is the basis of the "Semantic Cluster" methodology utilized by Stellar.
#gre #testpreparation #vocabulary

Episode 22: How long should you spend preparing for the GRE? (planning your test prep journey)

Check out StellarGRE: our top-rated self-study program and the world's only empirically-validated GRE test prep system. Use the code "BITES" for 10% off all membership plans. To learn more, go to: https://www.stellargre.com.
This is the million-dollar question. Unfortunately, it's difficult to answer categorically, as there are a lot of individual differences between students. That said, there are ways that students can answer that question for themselves with greater specificity. The key is to get greater clarity into one's baseline performance and one's target scores. In this episode, we'll discuss how to do just that. Oh, and most people spend between two and three months preparing for the test.
#gre #testpreparation #gradschool